Flat bed full-fashioned knitting machine



June 8, 1954 R. J. GOOD FLAT BED FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE v5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19. 1953 R m N E V m ATTORNEY June 8, 1954 R. J. GOOD 2,680,363

FLAT BED FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINE Filed May 19, 195?v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5h@ @Absorber shaft FieQ le 37 Y I Picojc Ba?.

Poincs y Fisio INVENTOR Ragmcn. .lood

ATTORNEY June 8, 1954 R. J. GOOD FLAT BED FULL-FASHION@ KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 19, 1953 Narrowng Gooseneck Arm.

Narrowing Lfc rm.

llhlnllllll N arrow ing Roller Ar Narrow'm Machine Assembly.

Needle. Bal".

Needle Bar Hinge INVENTOR Ragmonl J. Good.

ATTORNEY June 8, 1954 Filed May 19, 1953 R. J. 'GooD FLAT BED FULL-FASHION@ KNITTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snker Head 6! kno ck over` Ass emblg.

Fic-5.12

Needle Bar Hinge Arm.

/ Ne edle Bar Press Rocker Arm. Press Arm.

Needle Bar' Handle Link.

Cam .Shai

Press Cam.

INVENTOR Raymond 6006.

ATTORNEY Patented June 8, 1954 FLAT BED FULL-FASHIONED 'KNITTING MACHINE Raymond J. Good, Philadelphia, Pa., assignorto Fred C. Good & Sons, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 19, 1953, Serial No. 362,805

9 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic knitting machines and more particularly to standard machines of the flat bed spring beard needle type.

In the knitting particularly of sweaters, it has been the practice in the past to form'the rib knit portions, which are generally found `at the ends of the sleeves and on thelower body portions of sweaters, on a separate machine especially designed to produce a rib stitch. The rib knit portions Were formed first on such machines and then transferred to the needles of a flat bed machine by means of a comb-like device and the at bed machines were then used to form the remainder of the body and `sleeve portions with what is known to the art as a jersey knit stitch. This transfer operation being a manual one, was obviously time consuming and it would kbe very desirable to form the entire sweater upon a single machine.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention so to modify a standard machine that both a jersey 'knit and rib knit stitch maybe formed thereon. This will, of course, eliminate the manual transfer operation and result in .a substantial saving in the manufacture of clothing such, for example, as sweaters.

It is a further object of this invention so to modify a standard machine that the knitting may be quickly and easily changed from rib knit to jersey knit stitch and vice versa.

It is a further object of this invention to modify a standard machine in a simple and inexpensive fashion.

It is also an object of this invention so to modify a standard machine that it will knit a rib stitch without affecting the ability of the same machine to knit a standard jersey stitch.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the attached sheets of drawings, in which:

Figures 1-4, inclusive show the step by step formation of a few courses of the rib stitch fabric produced by the machine of this invention,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a section of the fabric shown in Figures 1-4. and showing some of the needles and picot points in operative position,

Figures 6, 7, and 8 are views in side elevation showing the cooperating positions of a single point and needle during the casting of a stitch,

Figure 9 shows the picot bar, together with the mechanism for shifting it laterally,

Figure 10 is a view on line Illl0 of Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation of the picot bar, the narrowing cam, and the necessary interconnecting linkage,

Figure 12 is a view in side elevation showing the needle bar, the press cam, and the necessary interconnecting linkage, and

Figure 13 is a front elevation of the modied press cam.

In general, the objects of this invention are achieved by using the'picot bar points to cast olf stitches from selected needles Vrather than allowing the needles to come against the press edge to cast their stitches, as is conventional in the standard operation of these machines. There is provided, therefore, a modified press cam which, while retaining to a large extent the normal needle bar motion, positively prevents contact between the beards of the needles and the press edge during that portion of the knitting cycle when the beards would normally contact the press edge to cast their stitches. The narrowing arm cam, which controls the vertical motion of the picot bar, is also modified to produce a substantially vertical reciprocatory motion on each knitting course, which allows the picot points to descend from their normal position and to cover the beards of selected needles as they pass through the fabric on each knitting course. Obviously, if there were an equal number of picot points and needles, it would be possible to form a jersey knit stitchin this fashion. However, this particula-r method of knitting will be described herein with reference particularly to the formation of a false rib knit stitch. While the stitch formed with the apparatus of this invention will be hereinafter referred to as a rib stitch, it will be understood that it is specifically dierent from a true rib stitch as formed on a multiple needle bank machine. The ribbed effect produced in fabric knit with the apparatus of the instant invention appears only on one side of the fabric, while a true rib stitch fabric is ribbed on both sides. Inorder to produce the fabric described hereinafter, half as many points are provided on the picot bar as there are needles on the needle bar. This results in a knitting action on only Vhalf of the needles on each course. That is to say, those needlesl which are covered by the points as they pass throughk the fabric during the knitting course are caused to .cast their loops, while those needles in between merely tuck or hold the loops in the beard of the needles. Before the next course is begun, however, a iurther modification oftheI machine causes the picot bar to shift laterally a distance corresponding to the distance between ,adjacentneedlesso that on the next knitting course those needles which cast their stitches on the previous course will now hold their stitches and those which held their stitches on the previous course will now cast them on the present course. For a detailed explanation of the apparatus of this invention, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to Figures 1-4, inclusive, for a description of the fabric produced by the invention, the needles Il appear in section while the yarn forming the fabric appears in full line. In Figure 2 the first, third, and fifth needles have held both the old and new sinker loops, while the second and fourth needles have cast their loops. In Figure 3 another course has been added and on this course the first, third, and fth needles have cast their loops, While the second and fourth needles have held theirs. In Figure 4 another course has been added and the knitting on this course is the same as for Figure 2. From these figures, therefore, it will be obvious that on alternate courses, alternate needles hold and cast their loops. Those which cast their loops on one course, hold on the next and those which hold their loops on one course cast on the next. The fabric produced may be characterized as a false rib tuck stitch. Such fabrics are not broadly new and applicant makes no claim to them herein. The machine and method for producing this particular fabric comprises the instant invention, which will be described hereinafter.

Figures 5 8, inclusive are illustrative of the basic concept of knitting on a standard machine as modified by this invention. n Figure 5, four needles l i are shown in a position in which they have begun to descend toward the fabric carrying a new course of yarn l2 in their beards. The picot bar points i3 have moved down to a position in which the beards of two of the needles are covered thereby. Continued downward movement of the needles, as in a standard knitting machine, is the next step with the exception that forward motion of the needles into contact with the press edge is avoided. Only those needles which are covered by the picot points are permitted to pull the new course of yarn l2 through the loops of the previous course. The other needles simply tuck the new loops over the old and return to their starting position. The picot points, therefore, supplant the press edge in the formation of stitches. Figures 6, '1, and 8 show this knitting action. In Figure 6, a point covered needle is about to descend through the old loops carrying the new course of yarn l2 along with it. In Figure 7 the needle has passed completely through the old loops and in so doing has also rpulled the new course of yarn l2 through the old loops. The picot point has already moved away from the needle and begun to rise toward its starting position. In Figure 8 the needle has moved slightly forward, thus completing the casting off of the stitch.

Having described the actual stitch forming operation, a description of those parts of a standard machine which must be modified to produce this stitch is now in order. Figures 9 and 10 show the picot bar 2l, together with the mechanism necessary to shift it laterally with respect to the needles. The bar 2| is provided with a series of points i3. The number of points I3 corresponds to one half the number of needles and the distance between points corresponds to the distance between two needles. The bar 2l is fixed with respect to the shifting rod 23 and may be attached thereto in any suitable manner. The shifting rod is mounted for lateral rectilinear reciprocating movement from left to right and right to left as indicated on the drawing. The bearings for this mounting, however, are not shown. Movement in either direction is limited to a distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent needles by means of a pair of collars 24 and 25 which are xed on the shifting rod 23 and arranged to abut the stop member 26 which is rigidly amxed to the bed of the machine. Motion is supplied to the picot bar shifting rod 23 from the shock absorber shaft 2 through a pivot arm 28. The pivot arm 28, shown in side elevation in Figure l0, is pivotally mounted near its lower end to the narrowing machine shaft 29. The lower forked end surrounds the shifting rod 23, while the upper forked end surrounds the shock absorber shaft. The collars 30 and 3i Xed on the shifting rod are, therefore, engaged by the lower fork of the pivot arm to drive it alternately right and left as the pivot arm rocks about its pivot point on the narrowing machine shaft in response to reciprocations of the shock absorber shaft. A pair of collars 32 and 33 are resiliently fixed to the latter shaft through springs 34 and 35 and collars 3S and 3l and serve to drive the upper end of the pivot arm. As the shock absorber shaft moves left and right, the picot bar is shifted a distance of one needle in opposite directions on each course. If we assume the needles to be numbered, therefore, odd numbered needles will be covered on the first course, even numbered needles on the second, odd on the third, and so forth.

Vertical movements of the picot bar are controlled by the conventional narrowing arm linkage shown in Figure 1l. The narrowing cam 4I, however, has a contour shown at i2 in order to produce the desired motion. Preferably, some means is provided to disengage the picot bar operating mechanism or place it in an idling position so that the same machine may be used to produce a standard jersey knit stitch. One possible means is shown in Figure l1 and includes a shutter-like arrangement 43 pivotally mounted on the narrowing roller arm. There are two pieshaped follower surfaces on this shutter which are spaced axially and radially from each other. By rotating the shutter, the narrowing roller arm may be caused to follow either a circular periphery corresponding to an idling picot action or the cam surface 42 to bring the picot bar into operation. For this purpose, there is shown a lever 4 pivotally mounted to the end of the narrowing roller arm and connected to the shutter i3 by a linking member 45, which in turn is pivotally connected to the lever and the shutter. The narrowing cam is, of course, xed to the cam shaft 46 and rotates with it.

Figures l2 and 13 show the conventional needle bar and linkage, together with the press cam and roller. The press cam. 5I has been modified as indicated at 52 to prevent the needles from contacting the press edge. As best seen in Figure 13, the press cam has been cut away through only about one half of its thickness. Thus, two axially adjacent cam surfaces are provided. The one shown in full lines in Figure l2 is the conventional one, while the one shown at 52 in dotted lines, is the one which provides the modified needle bar motion to produce the rib stitch in accordance with this invention. roller is made axially shiftable to engage either of these cam surfaces and is moved by means of an arm 53 slotted at one end to receive the press The pressl w. roller. In actual practice it would be preferable to tie in mechanically the arm 53 and the shutter control arm 44 so that the change over from jersey to rib knit stitching could be more easily elected.

To summarize the operation of the machine then, the large majority of parts operate exactly as in a standard machine. The yarn carrier travels back and forth lengthwise of the bed and on each travel it `lays down a new course of yarn on the nibs of the sinkers and dividers. These latter members then function in the usual way to form loops about each needle. When the needles start down, however, to pick up the new loops in their beards, the picot bar also starts down. At a time in the knitting cycle when the beards would ordinarily be closed by being pressed against the press edge, the picot bar is lowered to a position in which the points cover up the beards of alternate needles. Continued down- Ward movement of both the needle bar and the picot bar causes those needles which were covered to cast their stitches. Since the press cam is modified to eliminate all pressing action, those needles which were not covered by the picot points merely tuck their loops on top of the loops of the previous course and then return to their starting position. As the yarn carrier moves across the sinkers again, the picot bar is shifted laterally a distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent needles and the needle bar and picot bar again start the same cycle following formation of new sinker loops about the needles. On this course, however, those needles which on the last course held their stitches now cast them and those which cast their stitches now hold them. On the succeeding course, the picot bar is shifted laterally to return it to its original position and the knitting proceeds in this fashion.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there is shown and disclosed herein a new and useful type of knitting machine and one which is more versatile.

What is new and desired to be protected, is pointed out with particularity in the following claims, within the scope of Which there will be obvious variations.

I claim:

1. In a iiat bed spring beard full fashioned knitting machine, including a Dress edge, a series of spring beard needles and a series of picot points the ratio of points to the number` of needles being one to two; means for moving the needles up and down and in and out relative to, but out of contact with, the press edge; means for moving the picot points up and down to position them intermediate the press edge and the needles to overlie the beards of alternate needles as they pass through the fabric, said second mentioned means operating in timed relation to said first mentioned means; and means to shog the picot points in opposite directions on each course a distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent needles; whereby alternate needles are caused to cast their stitches on one course and hold them on the next course.

2. A machine as defined by claim 1 in which the iirst mentioned means comprises the standard needle bar and linkage mechanism, together with the standard press cam, said cam being cut back in that portion of its periphery which normally brings the needle forward to a position which closes the beards by pressure of the individual needles against the press edge.

3. A machine as defined by claim 1 in which the second mentioned means comprises the standard picot bar and narrowing linkage, together with a cam, on the main cam shaft for actuating said bar through said linkage.

4. A machine as defined by claim 1 in which the third mentioned means comprises: an arm pivoted to the narrowing shaft, the lower end of said arm engaging the picot shifting rod and the upper end of said arm slidably engaging the shock absorber shaft, and a pair of collars on the shock absorber shaft spaced on either side of the point of engagement between the arm and shaft to drive the arm.

5, Means for knitting aV false rib stitch material on a standard flat bed full fashioned spring beard machine comprising: a picot bar mounted on the narrowing head assembly and having half asmany points thereon as there are needles on the needle bar, said points being evenly spaced on the picot bar a distance corresponding to twice the distance between adjacent needles; cam means on the standard cam shaft of the machine engageable by the narrowing bar linkage follower to give substantially vertical reciprocating movement to the p-icot bar on each knitting course of the machine to cover the beards of alternate needles as they pass through the fabric; means to shift the picot bar laterally, alternately left and right a distance corresponding to that between adjacent needles at the beginning of each course of the yarn carrier sothat alternate needles are covered by the picot points on alternate knitting courses; and further cam means on the standard cam shaft engageable by the press bar follower member to prevent the needles from touching the press edge during the knitting course; whereby on each course half the needles hold the new loops and the other half cast their loops by coaction between the picot points and needles, those needles being covered by the points being the ones which cast their stitches. 6. The method of forming a false rib stitch fabric on a standard flat bed spring beard full fashioned machine, the steps comprising: (1) forming a first course of sinker loops on all the needles; (2) transferring the loops from odd numbered needles to picot points to allow said needles to cast these loops; (3) dropping the loops held by the picot points while retaining the remaining loops on even numbered needles; (4) forming a second course of sinker loops on all the needles; (5) transferring loops from the previous course from even numbered needles to the picot points to allow said needles to cast these loops; (6) dropping the loops from the picot points while retaining the loops from the iirst and second courses on the odd numbered needles;v

(7) and repeating steps (l) to (6) until the desired length of fabric is knitted.

'7. A standard flat bed knitting machine of the spring beard needle type and including means for modifying the standard knitting action to cause selected needles to cast their stitches by coaction between the picot bar points and the needles, the said means comprising: a press cam cut back in that portion of its periphery which normally controls the pressing of the needles against the press edge so that contact between the beards and press edge is eliminated; a narrowing bar cam for causing the picot points to descend from their normal starting position to cover the beards of selected needles as they pass through the fabric and then return to starting position during each knitting course to cause said needles to cast their stitches; a picot bar having a series of points thereon, the ratio between the number of points and needles being one to two, said bar being mounted on the narrowing head assembly; and means to shog the points alternately left and right a distance corresponding to the distance between adjacent needles on each course; whereby alternate needles are caused to hold their stitches on one course and cast them on the next.

8. A machine as defined by claim 1 and includjng means selectively operable to cause said machine to knit either a standard jersey stitch or a false rib stitch.

9. A machine as dened by claim 5 and including means selectively operable to shift the narrowing arm follower from said cam means to the standard cam and to eliminate all motion of the picot bar in order that the machine may knit a jersey stitch.

No references cited. 

